Promote Clean Ocean Water

Restore Native Fish

The reefs along Maui’s coasts once provided an abundance of seafood (I’a) and limu, staples of the traditional Hawaiian diet. Prior to Western contact, Hawaiians had developed an intricate community-based system to sustainably harvest and manage their coastal and marine fisheries.

That community-based approach is the heart of the Community Managed Makai Area (CMMA), a new way of working to protect Maui’s marine resources based on traditional Hawaiian management practices.

Instead of waiting for our overstretched State government to “just take care of everything,” Maui’s CMMAs make it possible for communities to take the lead and provide solutions to sustainably manage their marine resources.

Maui’s six CMMAs

Maui has a network of six Community Managed Makai Areas working together under the umbrella of the Maui Nui Makai Network. These CMMAs meet regularly to problem solve around issues concerning their nearshore ocean areas.

Topics may range from promoting pono fishing practices to ensure a sustainable source of food, to finding ways to reduce runoff pollution, to educating visitors about ways to snorkel or dive without causing harm to corals. The CMMAs work in concert with local and state government to protect their marine resources.

This bottom-up approach works; it inspires more community members to do their part to make a difference and can build a stronger marine protection ethic in the community.

Supported by Maui Nui Marine Resource Council and The Nature Conservancy

Maui Nui Marine Resource Council works in partnership with The Nature Conservancy to support the Maui Nui Makai Network and Maui’s six Community Managed Makai Areas. We provide training, attend meetings and offer financial support for specific projects.

The six CMMAs that currently operate in Maui County:

Learn more about traditional Hawaiian Fishing Practices

Prior to Western contact, Hawaiians had developed an intricate system to sustainably harvest and manage their coastal and marine fisheries. Learn more about these traditional fisheries management practices, a possible key to improving the current state of Maui’s fisheries.